Re: My Own Best Picks in Rams History

Jason Smith was one of those picks I understood, especially seeing the need the Rams had.

It was not a great year for OT, at least at the very top of the draft, and in fact was a really weak year all over. The first round busts from that draft are quite numerous.

The concussion thing and other injuries were what ended Smith as a player.

The knock on Smith was how raw he was, how he kind of came out of no where, which should be a cautionary tale.

My own draft day take was that the Rams should definitely deal down, and then take a Mike Oher later but back then, due to the contracts those top three got, no one would deal squat to the Rams to move up.

If Barron would not have sucked it, Smith would never have been drafted by the Rams.

Re: My Own Best Picks in Rams History

1. Adam Archuleta - I've never understood why people rank him as a bust when in 2002 I doubt anyone would have considered his first 2 seasons busts. It was only after getting hurt that he fell apart.

2. Jason Smith was a project who was drafted to fill a need. This is why I'm against Robinson this year. Maybe Robinson works out and goes to multiple pro-bowls but he's a project at pass blocking. Now maybe Smith wouldn't be a bust if he'd stayed healthy. He had some scarey concussions, it wasn't motivation.

3. When the Rams drafted Steven Jackson, they didn't need a RB. They took an elite talent and barely used him. He only had 134 carries that first season.

4. Pickett was anything but a bust. He's still a starting DT for the Packers. How in the world is that a bust???

5. Robert Quinn again was an elite athlete they barely used year one. James Hall was the starter.

6. Leonard Little, he was a MLB at TN his senior year. Drafted and barely played before moving to DE when ready and needed. He had played DE earlier at TN so the Rams had a clue. Dude was obviously an athletic stud if you watched TN that year.

7. Jesse James was illiterate. That's drafting without taking the time to research your choices.

8. Dexter McCleon was a better than average CB. People hated him unfairly because everyone threw at him routinely because one of the greatest CBs in the game was on the other side. After he left, he did well in KC.

9. Jame Laurinaitis I remember a LOT of people wanted the guy from USC who went to the Bengals.

Re: My Own Best Picks in Rams History

The knock on Smith was how raw he was, how he kind of came out of no where, which should be a cautionary tale.

Barry, do you see any parallels between the top two tackles in this draft class and the top two tackles in that draft class?

I'm looking at Matthews and Robinson, and it looks like a case of one guy who is technically sound but perceived as having limited upside versus another guy who is raw with a lot of athletic potential and upside. Those same descriptions were used to describe the Eugene Monroe vs. Jason Smith debate.

That's not me saying that I think Robinson will bust, but I see some parallels there. I preferred Monroe at the time, so I guess it's no surprise I prefer Matthews now. But I was happy with Smith as well, just as I'd be happy with Robinson. Hopefully if Robinson is the pick, he works out better than Smith ultimately did.

Re: My Own Best Picks in Rams History

Originally Posted by RebelYell

9. Jame Laurinaitis I remember a LOT of people wanted the guy from USC who went to the Bengals.

I remember the debate. Rey Maualaga could hit, but couldn't read an offense. JL could read and offense and tackle, but would never light anyone up. I always wanted Laurinaitis, he should have been a first round draft pick and we got a steal at the top of the second. He would be in Pro Bowls if he wasn't in the same division/conference as NaVorro Bowman and Patrick Willis

Re: My Own Best Picks in Rams History

Originally Posted by Vinnie25

Based on that theory, if Clowney were to absolutely dominate at the Combine would you consider drafting him at 2 if he's available?

Let's assume we don't trade down and Mathews is the #1 pick of the 2014 draft by the Texans or whomever, should the Texans trade their pick. Should/would we draft Clowney? I know this is speculation but if Clowney is as good as reported do we pass and fill a need or in fact take the BPA?
Clowney...

Re: My Own Best Picks in Rams History

Originally Posted by tomahawk247

I remember the debate. Rey Maualaga could hit, but couldn't read an offense. JL could read and offense and tackle, but would never light anyone up. I always wanted Laurinaitis, he should have been a first round draft pick and we got a steal at the top of the second. He would be in Pro Bowls if he wasn't in the same division/conference as NaVorro Bowman and Patrick Willis

I think the Rams got the better end of the deal.

Agreed. Living in Columbus and watching him play each game through his career, I was beyond overjoyed when we drafted him. The Buckeyes very rarely have two year captains and he was one of them, so I knew we were getting a leader for our defense, which was something we really needed at the time. Plus I get to keep watching him each week!

Re: My Own Best Picks in Rams History

Originally Posted by Nick

Barry, do you see any parallels between the top two tackles in this draft class and the top two tackles in that draft class?

I'm looking at Matthews and Robinson, and it looks like a case of one guy who is technically sound but perceived as having limited upside versus another guy who is raw with a lot of athletic potential and upside. Those same descriptions were used to describe the Eugene Monroe vs. Jason Smith debate.

That's not me saying that I think Robinson will bust, but I see some parallels there. I preferred Monroe at the time, so I guess it's no surprise I prefer Matthews now. But I was happy with Smith as well, just as I'd be happy with Robinson. Hopefully if Robinson is the pick, he works out better than Smith ultimately did.

I'm in the same boat right now, and I preferred Monroe as well. Does anyone have an idea of how well he's actually doing? I know he was traded, but I couldn't tell if it was because of their new pick, or because he just wasn't living up to expectations?

It'll be interesting to see how this plays out with the tackles this year. The trend of comparisons like these is to find everything wrong with one (Matthews) and to focus on everything right with the other (Robinson). It happens every year and I'm predicting a late "surge" from Robinson to be the top tackle taken, but with Matthews ultimately going first come draft day. Then again, it's incredibly early and ignorant of me to do so, but that's the fun of this, right?

Re: My Own Best Picks in Rams History

Originally Posted by laram0

Let's assume we don't trade down and Mathews is the #1 pick of the 2014 draft by the Texans or whomever, should the Texans trade their pick. Should/would we draft Clowney? I know this is speculation but if Clowney is as good as reported do we pass and fill a need or in fact take the BPA?
Clowney...

If Matthews goes #1 and we can't trade out, then yea, assuming the front office feels the concerns of his lackluster moments from this past season are mitigated, I'd go with Clowney.

"Before the gates of excellence the high gods have placed sweat; long is the road thereto and rough and steep at first; but when the heights are reached, then there is ease, though grievously hard in the winning." --- Hesiod